Olympian Turned Olympic Coach LaTanya Sheffield Named United States Sports Academy 2016 Alumna of the Year

Olympian and Olympic track coach LaTanya Sheffield, left, recently received the United States Sports Academy’s Alumna of the Year Award from Academy trustee Dr. Linda Moore during the Academy’s 32nd annual Awards of Sport program held recently on campus. Photo: United States Sports Academy

An Olympic hurdler and American record holder who is now a successful college assistant track coach and Olympic assistant coach has been named the United States Sports Academy’s 2016 Alumna of the Year.

LaTanya Sheffield, who earned her Bachelor of Sports Science degree in sports management magna cum laude from the Academy in 2011, is the 2016 winner of the Academy’s top annual award for alumni achievement. The Alumni of the Year Award is given to the year’s most outstanding Academy graduate and the honoree must represent the ideals of sport and of the Academy.

Sheffield was presented the award by Academy trustee Dr. Linda Moore during the Academy’s 32nd annual Awards of Sport program held recently on campus.

Sheffield recently served as assistant coach for the women’s team for USA Track & Field (USATF) at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, working with the women’s sprinters and hurdlers. Her efforts contributed to USATF women earning the largest number of Olympic medals ever with 16.

“Having been an Olympic athlete and now serving as an Olympic coach, I feel that I have come full circle and it has been an amazing circle in all aspects,” Sheffield said. “Being able to work with USA Track & Field as an athlete and now as a coach has been an incredible journey.

“To be selected as a coach by your peers is humbling and I am very excited to be an athletic ambassador for this great country. The Olympic spirit is who I am and it permeates every part of me.”

Want To Contribute?

So you want to contribute to the Sport Digest? We welcome submissions from the public and alumni alike. Below are links to the information you need to know. Feel free to submit a request for any additional information you may need.